Starter for engines



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,127

' M. B. JACKSON STARTER FOR ENGINES Filed March 17. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HH t I lm@ Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,127

M. B. JACKSON STARTER FOR ENGINES Filed March 17. 192s s Sheets-Sheet 2 "Illu" 5 mf s 9 O n l :ii @LS1-5-5L E EEA- 7 .9d

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Nov. 29, 1927.

1,651,127 M. B. JACKSON STARTER FOR` ENGINES Filed March 17'4 1926 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITEDl STATES MAUNSELL BOWERS JACKSON, OF TORONTO7 ONTARIO, CANADA.

STARTER non ENGINES.

Application led March 17,1926.. Serial No. 95,320.

This invention relates to starters for internal combustion engines of the type in which the starter pinion is manually moved into meshing engagement with the engine gear, and more particularly to the type of starter disclosed in my prior applications Serial Number 67 ,577, filed Nov. 7, 1925, and Serial Number 81,014, filed Jan. 13, 1926, in which a continuous movement of each loperating mechanism for meshing the starter with the engine gear, axially moved the pinion and rotated it as necessary to aline it with the gear. Each mechanism includes a finger pivoted on an arm, the finger being adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis. The object of the present invention is to so carry the finger that, if it is'swung by the pinion from its operative position toan inoperative position, it will have no appreciable tendency to axially move the pinion towards the gear.

I attain my object by providing the arm with a resilient stop adapted to limit the rocking movement of the finger on its pivot towards the pinion to position it in its operative position.. The finger is free to swing inward on its pivot, that is to swing in a direction away from the end of the pinion, without tensioning nor actuating any resetting means which would impart a rocking movement to the finger to swing it towards the end of the pinion and thus cause the latter to be axially moved; A fixed abutment is provided for re-setting the finger to its normal position and for limiting the movement of the finger carrying arm away from the pinion. The resilient stop is also adapted to re-set the finger if it is thrown past the face of the end of the pinion into engagement with the periphery of the said end of the pinion. In this inoperative position, the finger has no tendency to apply any axial force to the pinion. The constructions are hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings' in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of my starter showing the finger in its operative position and the finger carrying arm in its initial position;

Fig. 2 a cross section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a side elevation showing the posiy tion of the parts when the pinion teeth meet end to end with the gear teeth;

j Fig. 4- a side elevation showing the posi'- tion of the parts, with the finger in an inoperative position, after the engine has been started and before the switch is opened;

Fig. 5 a` sectional detail on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 a side elevation showing the finger moved to a second inoperative position; and

Fig. 7 a side elevation of a Ymodified form of the invention.

ln the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

1 is an electric motor provided with an extended armature shaft having long pitched threads 3 formed thereon. threaded on the shaft 2 is adapted to be manually moved, both axially and rotarily, into mesh with a gear 5 connected with the lcrank shaft of an engine (not shown), the

ycommon practice being to secure this gear to the engine ywheel. A bell crank 6 journalled ona 'stud 7 is adapted to be oscillated by any suitable, manually operated mechanism such as the foot pedal or plunger 8 shown in Fig. 1. On an arm 6a of the bell crank is pivoted, by means of a pin 9b, a finger`9 which is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 9a. The finger is alsoprovided with teeth 9d and 9e vadapted to engage, seriatim', a peripheral flange or collar 4a on the inner end lof the pinion. Preferably the flangeV is serrated for engagement with the fin ger teeth.

The arm 6n is adapted to be receivedbetween the spaced lugs 9a. To limit the out- Vwardl swinging movement ofy the finger on its 'pivot 9 for positioning the finger in its operative position, I provide a resilient stop 21 adapted to extendacross the gap between the lugs and to engage the back of the arm 6a. Theresilient stop is formed from a substantially U-shaped piece of wire having coil springs 21a formed intermediate the'ends of its leg portions. The springs 'are loosely disposed on theopposite ends of the pin 9 and `the loop oryhool portion 2lb ioining the springs passes round behind the' lugs. The free ends of the stop'are secured to the sides of the finger. Preferably the finger is A pinion 4V loosely mounted on its pivot so that it will tend, by means of gravity, to fall to its operative position.

It is obvious that by rocking. the arm 6a the finger will axially move the pinion towards the gear 5 and into meshing engagement therewith if the pinion teeth are in alinement with the spaces between the engine gear teeth when the pinion and gear come together. It the teeth'ot the pinion and gear meet end to end when the pinion is being axially moved into mesh with the gear, the axial movementot the pinion towards the gear will be stopped, which will result in rst one tooth 9d, and it' necessary, the second tooth 9e rotating the pinion sutiiciently to cause its teeth to clear the teeth of the gear. This is due to the finger swinging in a plane located at one side of the axis of the pinion and having its teeth at an angle to said axis. When the finger has rotated the pinion teeth past the contacting gear teeth it again moves the pinion axially of the shat't and into meshing engagement with the gear teeth.

The other arm 6 of the bell crank .6 is 'adapted to engage a spring` pressed contact 11 ot an ordinary plunger type switch and move it to close the starter motor circuit. With this Aarrangement the motor 1 is energized when the pinion teeth are in meshing engagement with the gear teeth. The shaft 2 is thus rotated to thread the pinion, which is held 'trom rotation by Athe gear, along the shaft and fully into mesh with the gear. Vvhen the pinion engages a collar 14 formed on or secured to the shat't its axial movement is stopped and it rotates with the shaft to drive the gear. Y

When the engine isstarted the pinion is automatically returned. to its inoperative position in the usual manner. The axial return movement ot the pinion is limited by shoulders 15 formed on the outer ends of the threads 3. The pinion is releasably retained in its inoperative position by any suitable means such as aspring pressed ball 16 carried in the shaft and adapted to trictionally engagea recess formed at the inner end of the pinion.

It the motor switch is closed when the engine starts, the pinion when moving to its normal position will engage the finger Sand swing it inwardly into engagement with a stop yQ2 carried by the arm 6, see Fig. 4L. In this inoperative position the Viinger has no appreciable tendency to .move lthe pinion towards the gear. When the operator removes his foot from the toot device 8, a spring 19 returns the latter and the bell crank 6 to their normal positions.. During this return movement the lugs 9a are adaptedv to be engaged by a fixed abutment Q3 which re-sets the iinger 9 toits operative position and engages the arm 6a to limit its movement under the action of the spring 19. Y The stop 22 limits the inward swinging movement ot the iinger to position the lugs for engagement with the abutment 23.

If the pedal 8 should be inadvertently stepped on while the engine is running, the finger would move the pinion into contact with the ends ot the gear teeth which would cause the pinion to be rotated. rlhis would resultin the iinger being thrown inwardly, by the revolving pinion, into an inoperative position in which the finger would have no tendency to apply axial torce to the pinion. The pinion is thus tree trom the( action oi forces tending to hold it in contact with the revolving gear.

The above results are also obtained in cases where the engine makes a false start (tires once or `twice only) and the operator tries to mesh the pinion and gear while the latter is rocking in its normal direction or" rotation. pinion and gear while the latter is rocking or revolving in the direction ott' rotation opposite to its normal direction ot rotation the serrations on the pinion will engage a tooth on the finger and throw the latter outwardly, as shown in Fig. G, to a. second in- Should the operator try to mesh theV operative position in which'the finger engages the periphery of the collar ein. The coil springs 21a of the resilient stop are thus Vtensioned and are adapted, when the arm 6 is returned to its normal position, to reeset the finger to its operative position. rllhe tensioning of the springs 21 has no tendency to cause the pinion to be moved axially oi3 the shaft. 1

In Fin'. 7 is shown a inodiiied torni ot my invention applied to t-he starter shown in my prior applications in which starter the finger is swung inwardly on its pivot to its operative position. rlhe finger 9g is termed as a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the arm 6a.' from the pinion engaging tooth 9h is provided with a weight jus-t sniticient to rock the toothed end of the lever outwardly to .its operative position which is determined by a resilient stop 21C. A. .tixedV abutment 23a is provided forv engagement with the weighted end ot the lever to ensure that the latter will be positionedy in its operative position when the arm (ia is returned to its initial position. l

lVhat I claim is 1. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft; a starter Ypinion mounted thereon for rotaryy movement therewith and for longitudinal movement tnereot to mesh with a gear of the engine to bey started; a pivoted finger adapted toengage the pinion. eccentric to its axis; and means tor actuan ing the finger tocause such longitudinal movement of the starter pinion andto cause a rotary movementV thereof it. the teethv on the pinion meet end to end with the teeth on the gear, the finger beingV adapted tube swung in either direction ot movement out of its operative4 position by the pinion it the latter is rotated by the gear, the linger when The end ot' the lever remotel ico in an inoperative position having no appreciable tendency to move the pinion longitudinally of the shaft. f

2. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereon for rotary'movement therewith. and for longitudinal movement thereof to mesh with a gear of the engine to he started; a pivoted finger adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis; means for actuating the finger to cause such longitudinal movement of the starter pinion and to cause a rotary movement thereof if the teeth on the pinion meet end to end with the tee-th on the gear; and resilient means for limiting the outward rocking movement of the finger on its pivot for positioning the finger in its operative position, the said means being adapted to permit the pinion to swing the finger inward to an inoperative position without exerting any force on the finger which would tend to move the pinion longitudinally of the shaft.

8. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion Vmounted thereon for rotary movement therewith andV for longitudinal movement thereof to mesh with a gear of the engine to be started; a pivoted finger adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis; means for actuating the finger to cause such longitudinal movement of the starter pinionand to Cause a rotary movement thereof if the teeth on the pinion meet end to end with the teeth on the gear; resilient means for limiting the outward rocking movement of the finger on its kpivot for positioning the finger in its operative position; the said means being adapted to permit the pinion to swing the fingerinward to an inoperative position without exerting any force on the linger which would tend to move the pinion longitudinally of the shaft; and mea-ns for re-setting the finger in its operative position when it has been withdrawn from engagement with the pinion.

An engine starter drive including ak rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof to mesh with a gear of the engine to be started; a pivoted finger adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis; means for actuating the finger to cause such longitudinal movement of the starter pinion and to cause a rotary movement thereof ifthe teeth on the pinion meet end to end With the teeth on the gear; resilient means for limiting the outward rocking movement of the finger on its pivot for positioning the finger in its operative position` the said means being adapted to limit the return movement of the. finger to its initial position and to re-set the finger in its operative position. w

5. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereonfor rotary movementtherewith and for longitudinal movement thereof toV mesh with a gear of the engine to be started; a pivoted arm; a fingerpivoted on the arm and adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis; the finger having a lug;means for actuating the arm to cause such longitudinal movement of the pinion and to cause a rotary movement thereof if the teeth on the pinion meet end to end with the teeth onl the gear; and a coil spring disposed on the finger pivot and having an end engaged with the finger, and havinga hook engaged with the lug, the hook being adapted to engagethe arm to limit the rocking movement of the finger on its pivot in one direction to position the finger in its operative position, the said spring and hook being adapted to permit the pinion tovswing the finger to an inoperative position without exerting any force on the finger which would tend to move the pinion longitudinally of the shaft.

6. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereofto mesh with al gear of the engine to be started; a pivoted arm; a finger pivotedon the arm and adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to itsaxis, the finger having a lng; means for actuating the arm to cause such longitudinal movement of the pinion and to cause a rotary movement thereof ifV the teeth on the pinion meety end to end with the teeth on the gear; a resilient stop carried by the finger and adapted to engage the arm for limiting the rocking movement of the finger on its pivot in one direction for positioning the ngerin its operative position, the said stop being adapted to permit'the pinion to swing the finger to an inoperativev position without exerting any force thereon which would tend to move the pinion longitudinal* ly of the shaft; an abutment adapted to engage the lug to re-set the finger in its operative position and adapted to engage the arm to limit its return movement; and a stop carried by one of said arm and finger parts adapted to engage the other 'partto limit the inward swinging movement of the finger to position the lug for engagement with the abutment.

7. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereon for rotary mov-ement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof to mesh with a gear of the engine to be started; a pivoted arm; a finger pivoted on the arm and adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis, the finger being adapted to move by gravity towards its operative position; and resilient means for limiting the rocking movement ot the finger on its pivot for positioning it in its operative position7 the said means being adapted to permit the pinion to swing the linger upward to an inoperative position Without Yexerting any foro-e on theV iinge'r which would tend to move the pinion longitudinally ont the shait.

8. An engine starter drive including` a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereo'll to mesh with a gear ot the engine to be started; a pivoted arm; a nger pivoted on the arm and adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis means for actuating the arm to cause such longitudinal movement of the pinion and to cause Aa rotary movement thereof ir" its teeth meet end to end with the teeth on the gear; a resilient stop normally untensione'd by the finger tor limiting the rocking movement ot' the finger on its pivot towards its operative position; and a tired abutment for 11e-setting the iin'ger to its operative position when the arm is in itsI initial position.

9. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereon ntor rotary movement therewith and 'for longitudinal movement thereof to mesh lwith a gear of the engine to he started; a pivoted arm; a finger pivotedon the arm and adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis; means for actuating the arm to cause such longitudinal movement of the pinion and to cause a rotarymovement thereof if its teeth meet end to end With the teethon the gear; a resilient stop normally luntensioned by the finger for liniitingzthe rocking movement ot the inger on its pivot towards its operative positionyand means ior re-seiting the inger to its operativepoeition when the arm is in its initial position. l0. An engine starter drive including -a rotatable shaft; a starter pinion mounted thereon Jfor rotary movement therewith and tor longitudinal movement thereof to mesh with a gear of the engine to `be started; a pivotod inger adapted to engage the pinion eccentric to its axis; means for actuating the tnger to cause such longitudinalmovement ot' the starter. pinion and to cause a rotary movement thereof if the teeth on the pinion moet end to end with the teeth on the gear, the linger being adapted' to be swung in either direction ot movement out of its operative position by the pinion ifthe latter rotated bythe gearyvthe finger' When in' an inoperative position having no appreciable tendency to move the pinion longitudinally ot the shaft; and means for demeshing the pinion automatically when the gear is driven by the engine, the linger being adapted to permit the demeshing of the pinion Without imparting movement to the linger actuating means.' Y

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 8th .day of March, 1926; 5 v

MAUNSELL BOWERS JACKSON. 

